There is a conflict of assumption when viewing a bride in a highly refined, elegant, at times dramatic look…. the Diva. Yes there are indeed Diva brides, however do understand, Diva is a state of being, an attitude, not dictated by what one wears. Therefore, can we be glam brides, without giving off the diva vibe??? After leafing through this gorgeous styled shoot, taking place at House of Blues, my answer is hell yes! The vision of the team assembled was to create progressive modern bridal looks that lean at times to the glam bride side of things. 5 unique looks feature gorgeous gowns from designers Kenneth Pool, Amsale, Paloma Blanca, & Ines de Santo. The looks range from classically modern & elegant, to the more dramatic.

Julie’s first look is one of strength & femininity. Wearing Kenneth Pool Ethereal, a draped gown with shirred straps, silver floral embroidery accents on one shoulder and skirt, in this particular case, Julie was styled without the removable halter straps, freeing up her frame, giving her a more dynamic & elegant presentation. Long pearl strands were used to play up the femininity & flirty roles of this look, while her hair was given a side swept bang into a chignon updo. The result is a modern bridal look with a side of spunky attitude & plenty of nods to her girly side!

Taylor embodies two looks, both leaning to the dramatic, firey & passionate side of things. There are 2 stunning wedding dresses setting the tone for each look. The first {left above image} is Ines de Santo’s Citrine described as a Strapless Sweetheart dropped waist mermaid gown in antique ivory with three dimensional laser cut rose petals on bodice and under skirt with organza overlay. The over skirt is in antique ivory Italian Silk Taffeta. In Taylor’s second look {above right image} she is wearing Paloma Blanca 4116, which is a flirty strapless A-line gown with a natural waistline & cascade of ruffles on the floor length skirt. We’ll touch more on each of the 2 looks in just a bit!

Julie’s next look is all drama & all glam! Wearing Kenneth Pool Mesmerized, the gown of choice sets a ‘Look At Me’ tone, without going completely over the top. The choice of jewels go a long way with the look in this particular case. Utilizing a strong matching statement set of both necklace & earrings, {the set is actually gemstone with some truly lovely colors!} this matching ensemble actually serves to bring the ‘Look At Me’ dress into a more refined & elegant bridal look. Jewelry of this design naturally lend itself to a more refined elegant look which we typically associate with black tie affairs, giving a sense of power & nobility. Jewelry is a terrific way to transform & guide a certain bridal look, giving you plenty of room to truly get the feel that your aiming for.

Taylor’s Ines de Santo’s Citrine look screams Opera elegance. Sure the setting doesn’t hurt, but I would feel this way regardless. There is a high level of sophistication & class in this stunning gown {big time props to whoever made sure this fit her like a glove on the shoot!} which hugs & highlights her gorgeous figure. The design of the gown naturally takes this look into the stratosphere of ball gown swoon. What I appreciate however, is that the hair & make up here is just enough to match the level of sophistication, but not a touch over, perfectly complimenting the look as a whole. The result here is a superb Black Tie look that any upper crust would emulate in a heart beat.

Sometimes a bride just wants to be chic & that is simply that. She wants a dress that will do the talking for her, put right out there the look she is going for, sit back, & let the dress do all the work. This is the case with Julie’s Kenneth Pool Lucienne gown {above right image}. This gown is hand-beaded tulle that features a scoop neckline in a strapless tulle sheath style dress adorned with hand beaded crystals. Paired with a simple set of large pearls, the overall look is that of refined elegance & sophistication. Though the dress does indeed have a lot of beading, this is one of those gowns that doesn’t scream at you. This is a gown for a bride looking to be stunning, yet understated.

Who’s says you can’t be dramatic with a side of whimsy, certainly not Lady Gaga! To change up Taylor’s sophisticated look {fully discussed below}, the team opted for a loosely designed/loosely fitting birdcage veil. This type of veil is most definitely for the fashion forward bride & must be worn with confidence. In other words, if you going to go with a statement veil, you MUST own it! I think they are beyond gorgeous & on the right bride, with the right attitude, nirvana!

So my question for you guys is… which look is your favorite? Do you lean more toward the fashion forward dramatic brides, or the more reserved elegance? I must admit my overall favorite look is Julie’s above Ines de Santo gown with the awesome birdcage veil. There is just something about that look as a whole that captures my attention!